Machine for trimming boot and shoe heels



(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. A. TYLER.

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING BOOT AND SHOE HEELS. No. 247,714.

Patented Sept. 27, 1881.

(ModelQ) 4 Sheets-Sheet 25 M. A. TYLER.

MAO-HINE FOR TRIMMING BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

No. 247,714. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

(Modem 4 Sheets- -ShBet 3 M. A. TYLER.

. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1881.

(MndeL') 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. A. TYLER.

MACHINE FOE TRIMMING BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

No. 247,714. Patented Sept. 27,1881;

1 gym. M!-

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFI E.

MERRILL A. TYLER, OF ROOKLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES CURTIS, OF

BOSTON, .MASSAOHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,714, dated September 27, 1881.

Application filed June 18, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERRILL A. TYLER, of R0ckland,in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inMachines for Trimming Boot and bhoeHeels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heel-trimmin g machines in which the heel is rotated against a shaving-knife; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of a machine of this class, whereby the machine is rendered more effective in its operation and other desir: able results are attained, as I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanyin gdrawin gs, form ing part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a heel-trimmin g machine embody ing my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal-vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on line at .r, Fig. 1. Fig. at represents a portion of the section shown in Fig. 3, certain parts being omitted. Fig. 5 represents a view of aportion of an arm or lever, hereinafter referred to as supporting the pivoted table. Fig. 6 represents a portion of the section shown in Fig. 3, with the parts indifferent positions. Fig. 7 represents a plan view of the knife-holding stock, showing its position with relation to the heel bein gtrimrned. Fig. 8 represents a section on lineyy, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents an end view of the device shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents-a section on line e a, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 represents an edge view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 12 represents a view of a diiferent form of guard on the knife-holding stock. Fig.'12-

represents a section on line a 2, Fig. 12. Fig.

- for clamping the heel and for guiding the trimming-knife, and an irregularly-curved weighted ,beam, 0/, to the e ds of which said devices are attached. The beam at is provided with trunnions a a journaled in bearings in a support (Model) ing-frame, b, said bearings being at opposite sides of the above-named clamping and guiding devices, so that the jack is provided with fixed bearings at both ends, instead of at one end, as heretofore, and is therefore more firmly supported.

The heel-clamping devices are composed of a pattern-block, d, attached to the jack near the end, having the trunnion a and an adjustable foot, 0, supported by a jointed arm, f, attached to the opposite end of the jack. The pattern-block has the exact outline to be given to the bottom of the heel, and guides the trimmin g-knife, as described hereinafter. The foot 0 is attached to a rod, 9, which is adapted to slide longitudinally in a sleeve, h, on the supporting-arm f, to permit the foot to move toward and from the pattern-block to secure and release the heel, and is forced toward the pattern-block by a screw-shaft, t, working in a threaded socket in the trunnion a said screwshaft bearing against the end of the rod g. The supporting-army is jointed at f, so that the sleeve h, with the rod 1 and foot 0, can be moved laterally out of line with the patternblock to permit the boot or shoe to be placed over the foot 6.

j represents a spring on the rod 9, interposed between the sleeve h and foot 0, to give the foot a yielding pressure toward the patternblock, so that when the screw-shaft z is retracted to permit the removal of the boot or shoe from the foot 0 the yielding pressure of the foot will hold the succeeding boot or shoe heel in'place while the shaft 6 is being screwed up to clamp the heel, so that the operator does not have to hold the boot or shoe while he is turning the shaft *5. The yielding, movement of the foot, in connection with the lateral movement afforded by the jointed arm f, onables the operator to conveniently apply the boot or shoe to the jack in its proper position before turning the screw-shaft i to rigidly clamp the heel, the operation being effected by placing the boot or shoe on the laterally-displaced foot 0 and then swinging the foot to place, and at the same time pushing it back against the pressure of its spring until the bottom of the heel is retracted far enough to enable the operator to move it to its bearing on the pattern-block. The spring-impelled foot then holds the heel in place with a yielding pressure, while the operator turns up the shaft 6 to hold the heel rigidly.

It represents a table provided with a vertical flange, 7a, which is pivoted at Z, Fig. 4, to an arm or lever, m, the latter being pivoted at n to a vertical standard, 0, rigidly attached to the frame I). The lever m is in this instance provided with an offset plate, m, which receives the pivot l of the table-flange 7r. It will be seen that the table is adapted to assume various inclinations by turning on its pivot, and to move toward and from the jack by the oscillation of the lever m. The flange k of the table is provided with friction-rollers pp, arranged to bear upon a cam or guide, q, on the jack a, as shown in Figs. 3, 4c, and 6. The cam q, I call a heel-seat guide, the same having the form of the top of a heel, but considerably larger. The lever m is provided with a weight, 1', or equivalent device, arranged to hold the rollers pp in contact with the guide q.

8 represents a stock having a flat under surface, adapted to rest on the table k, and provided with a curved knife, t, formed to give the desired transverse curvature to the heel. When the stock rests upon the table the knife stands at nearly a right angle to the surface of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, with its cutting-edge about on a level with the axial line of the jack.

t is a channel or aperture in the stock, behind the knife, for the reception of chips or cuttings. V

The stock sis provided with a guard, to, projecting over the knife, and having a lip, u, adapted to be inserted in the groove between the heel-rand and the upper, to prevent. the upper from being injured by the knife. Said guard extends preferably nearly or quite across the knife, as shown in Fig. 9. The guard u has a yielding movement imparted to it by a spring, o, in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, the guard being attached to a lever, 10, which is pivoted to the stock 8. preferably by a series of links, A B O, as shown in Fig. 7, the object of said links being to enable the guard to follow the curvature of the knife in its movements. It will be seen that the yielding character of the guard adapts it automatically for use on heels of different heights;

but, if desired, the guard may be made adjustable without having a yielding movement.

D represents a stop to limit the yielding movement of the guard 11.

E represents a lip rigidly attached to the stock 8, and adapted to bear against the rear edge of the pattern-block d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, to'assist the operator in keeping the knife in position laterally. The ends of the knife are dovetailed and are inserted in dovetailed sockets F F in the end of the stock 8.

To enable the knife to be removed I provide the stock with removable plates H H, in which the upper edges of the sockets-F F are formed. The stock is provided with a handle,I,projectin g beyond the table 70, and adapted to be grasped by the operator.

It will be observed that the table is of sufficient size to enable the stock to be moved laterally thereon in any direction. The stock is prevented from being withdrawn from the table by a latch, J, pivoted to a standard, K, on the table, and detachably secured to another standard, L, the latch extending across the stock, and forming a stop for a shoulder, M, thereon.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The boot or shoe being clamped by the heel, as described, the operator grasps the stock 8, inserts the lip of the guard to in the groove above the rand, and places the lip E against the pattern-block, as shown in Fig. 7. The

jack is then rotated, either by hand or suitable power, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.3, thus moving the heel against the knife t. The inclination of the table It is governed by the heel-seat guide q, so that the knife always stands at the proper angle of presentation to the heel, the angle varying autom aticall y to conform to the varying curvatures of the heel, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The guard it limits the depth of the cut of the knife into the upper portion of the heel, and the pattern-block constitutes a bearing for the opposite end of the knife, causing it to impart the desired shape to the bottom of the heel.

It will be seen that the adaptability of the stock 8 to be moved laterally in all directions on the table enables the knife to operate on many different sizes of heels, and also to trim various styles, from one that is nearly or quite vertical to one that is very much inclined or curved, like the French heel.

The heel-seat guide is provided with shankpieces q 9, corresponding to the outlineof the shank of a sole, and each of said shank-pieces causes the table It to turn somewhat rapidly on its pivot when the portion of such piece included between the lines 1 2, Fig. 6, is passing over the friction-roller 19, thereby giving the knife an upward movement and causing it to act more rapidly in trimming the comparatively-straight portions or sides of the heel, as well as chan gin gits angle of presentation, so that it will not enter the sides of the heel too deeply. I prefer to make the shank-pieces q q adj ustable, to adapt them to boots and shoes of different widths of shank, and to this end I pivot each piece g at g to the guide q, and provide the lower end of each piece with a lug, g against which abuts a set-screw, q, inserted in a rib or flange, Q5, rigidly attached to the guide q.

One or both of the friction-rollers 12 1) may be made adjustable to vary the inclination of the table It and the angle of presentation of the knife. I have shown the roller 12 adjustable in this instance, the same being mounted on a slide, P, adapted to move in guides in the flange K, and moved by a screw, It. The same result may be attained by adjusting the table vertically, and for this purpose I make the pivot 01. of the lever m vertically movable, said pivot being formed on a nut, S, movable in a slot, T,inthe standard 0, and held at any desired height by a screw, U, as seen in Fig. 2. I provide the lower end of the lever m with a friction-roller, V, resting against a bearing or plate, W, attached to the bed or support of the machine. Said friction-roller and bearing support the lower end of the lever m against the lateral strain exerted upon it during certain parts of the trimming operation, and prevent said lever from binding on the bearingsurfaces surrounding the pivot n.

The pattern-block d is removable from the jack, as usual. I prefer to give said block an inclined outer surface, thereby causing it to hold the heel in a diagonal position when the heel is to be formed with a considerable inward curvature from top to bottom. When the jack is rotated by hand a crank, A, is pro vided on the trunnion a? but when power is employed I prefer to provide an automatic reversing mechanism to cause the jack to rotate alternately in opposite directions. A mechanism for this purpose is shown in Fig. 13, consisting of a pinion, B, on the end of the trunnion a, a driving-shaft, U, journaled in the supporting-frame of the machine, and a rack, D, pivoted to a crank or eccentric, E, on the shaft O, and meshing with the pinion B. The rack is reciprocated by the eccentric E, and therefore rotates the pinion B alternately in opposite directions. The rack is supported by a pivoted rocking guide, F.

A suitable stop-motion should be employed to stop the operation of the rack after every two rotations of the jack, to enable the operator to remove the boot or shoe and apply another.

When the sole is trimmed all around before the heel is applied, as is often the case in the manufacture of womens boots and shoes, I

' provide the guard 20 with a seat or guide, H, 4 5 at the inner side of the lip u, adapted to form a bearing for the trimmed edge of the sole, as shown in Fig. 12, said guide beingflush with the cutting-edge of the knife, and preventing the latter from acting on the edge of the sole.

The pattern-block may be provided with a groove, L, as shown in Fig. 14, to receive and guide the lip E of the stock 8.

Having thus described myv invention, I claim 1. In a heel-trimmin g machine, the combination of the jack a, having the cam q, patternblock d, and devices, substantially as described, co-operatin g with said block to support the boot or shoe heel, the tool-carrying table is, a swinging arm, m, to which said table is pivoted, and a knife-holding stock, 8, arranged upon said table, all constructed and arranged for co-operationsubstantially as described.

2. The stock 8, having the knife t and auto- 6 5 matically-adjustable guard u, adapted to protect the upper from injury by the knife, as set forth.

3. The stock having the curved knife t, combined with the guard u, projecting over the outer face of the knife, and provided with a system of levers and a spring, whereby an automatically-yielding movement substantially parallel with the curved edge of the knife is imparted to said guard, and the guard is kept at a uniform distance from said edge, as set forth.

4. The combination of the jack having the heel-seat guide, the pivoted lever m, table pivoted to said lever, and means, substantially as described, for raising and lowering the pivot of said lever, and thereby varying the inclina tion of the table with relation to the heel and guides, essentially as set forth.

5. The stock having the knife t, combined with the guard to and the levers 'w A B U, and spring 11, whereby an automatically-yielding movement is imparted to said guard, as set forth.

6. The stock having the knife tand the fixed lip E, adapted to bear upon the pattern-block, and the yielding guard adapted to bear upon the heel-rand, as set forth.

7. The combination of the jack having the heel-seat guide, the pivoted table having rollem pp, adapted to run upon the surface of the 5 guide, and a lever, m, pivoted at it upon the frame 0, guided at its lower end and controlled in itsmovements by a weight or its equivalent, to hold said rollers with a yielding pressure against the guide, as set forth.

8. In a heel-trimming machine, the combination of the table, its supporting-lever, a friction-roller, V, on said lever, and a fixed bearing for said roller, to support lateral pressure exerted on the lever, as set forth.

9. The pivoted table having a latch or holder, J, adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the knife-holding stock, as set forth.

10. The heel-seat guide having the adj usta-' ble shank-pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a heel-trimining-machine jack, the combination, with the pattern-block, of the clamping-foot c, the longitudinally movable rod 9, supporting the foot, the jointed arm or framef, supporting the rod, and the screwshaft mounted in a threaded bearing, and adapted to bear upon the end of the rod and force the same toward the pattern-block, as set forth.

12. In a heel-trimming-machine jack, a pattern-block inclined relatively to the axis of the jack, substantially as and for the. purpose described.

13. In combination with the stock 8, having the lip E, a pattern-block having a groove, L, to receive and guide said lip, as set forth.

14. In a jack, the combination, with the pattern-block and the clamping-foot e, of means for giving said foot a lateral motion to throw it out of line with the pattern-block, a yielding I 0 motion to enable it to partially hold the heel, and a positive motion to enable it to rigidly hold the heel, said means consisting of the longitudinally-movable rod g, supporting the foot, thejointed arm or frame 1', supporting the rod, the foot-operating screw-shaft mounted in a threaded bearing, and adapted to be retracted and separated from the rod, and a spring, j, adapted to give the foot :1 yielding movement toward the pattern-block, as set forth.

15. The combination of the jack having a pinion, B, on one of its trunnions, the reciprocating rack engaging with said pinion and rotating the same alternately in opposite direction s, and the pivoted rocking guide F, supporting the rack, as set forth.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name i to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1881.

MERRILL A. TYLER. Witnesses:

CHARLES CURTIS, 0. F. BROWN. 

